Although students leave for winter break in late November, the University of Denver remains abuzz with holiday activities and athletics events between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Eleven local and national groups will perform holiday shows at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts throughout November and December, and four Pioneers varsity teams will compete over the break.

Tickets for all concerts are available through the Newman Center box office or at newmantix.com; visit denverpioneers.com to purchase tickets to athletics events.

International Youth Ballet: More than 100 talented young dancers from the Denver-based youth ballet company will present their production of “The Nutcracker” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 and 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6.

Cleo Parker Robinson Dance: “Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum,” performed by the local nonprofit dance company, has become a Christmas tradition in Denver. Dancers from Robinson’s company join with musicians and spoken-word artists to perform pieces influenced by the African harvest, the Native American winter solstice, Las Posadas in Mexico, the ancient Hebrew Festival of Lights, Junkanoo in the Caribbean and more in this celebration of holiday traditions around the world. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, 12, 13, 19 and 20, and 2 p.m. Dec. 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21.

DU Holiday Carillon Concert: Across campus from the Newman Center, DU carillonneur Carol Jickling Lens will perform her annual free holiday concert at 3 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Williams Carillon at the Ritchie Center, 2240 E. Buchtel Blvd. A video camera will show how the carillon is played, and a reception follows the concert.

Cherry Creek Dance: The Denver-based dance school presents its annual December recital, “Blizzard and the Beach” — featuring performers from ages 2–92 performing in styles ranging from ballet, tap and jazz to hip-hop and breakdance — at 9:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Dec. 14.

Denver Brass: The 14-member horn group — one of just a few professional large brass ensembles in the world — lists Lamont School of Music faculty member Al Hood and former Lamont director Joe Docksey among its ranks. The group presents its holiday concert, “How the Brass Saved Christmas,” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 21.

ATHLETICS

Hockey: Cheer on the Pioneers hockey team when they face North Dakota on Dec. 12 and 13.

Men’s Basketball: Rally for the men’s team on Nov. 30 when they play New Orleans; Dec. 10 against Northern Iowa; Dec. 17 against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi; Dec. 19 against Colorado State; Dec. 21 against Bryant; and Dec. 29 vs. Saint Joseph’s.

Women’s Basketball: The women’s team has a run of five home games at Magness Arena over the break: Nov. 25 against Colorado; Nov. 28 against Siena; Dec. 3 against Cal State Fullerton; Dec. 6 against the University of Missouri-Kansas City; and Dec. 8 vs. Air Force.

Gymnastics: The DU gymnastics team has its intrasquad meet at 6 p.m. Dec. 13 at Hamilton Gymnasium.